Nasal filter



L. M. SHUFF NASAL FILTER- Oct. 17, 1950" Filed Sept. .20, 1949 Fig. l.

Leonard M. Snuff Maw; EM I Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NASAL FILTER Leonard M. Shuff, Hickman, Ky.

Application September 20, 1949, Serial No. 116,739

2 "Claims. (01. 128148) This invention relates to dust filtering devices,

and more particularly to a nasal filter adapted to be inserted in the nostrils-of a persons nose to thereby prevent the inhalation of dust and other substances into the nasal passages.

An object of this invention is to provide a nasal filter which may be comfortably seated within the nose of a wearer and which will prevent the entrance of dust, pollen, or other foreign matters from passing throughthe nasal passages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nasal filter upon which a suitable medicinal substance may be coated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a nasal filter which may be comfortably worn by the wearer and which will not interfere with the proper nasal breathing while preventing foreign matter from entering the nasal passages.

An additional object resides in the provision of a nasal filter that is exceedingly light and comfortable, strong, durable, and efiicient in operation, simple to manufacture, pleasant and unobtrusive in appearance, and which has means for readily and easily retaining a fibrous filter cartridge which may be attached thereto when the filter is used by the wearer.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this nasal filter, a further embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a elevational view of the nasal filter showing it in emplacement within the nose of a 1 The clip l comprises a pair of legs I2 and l4 anda central connecting portion IS.

The clip I0 is so shaped as to be comfortably Worn by a person using the device and has a pair of opposed hemispherical projections l8 adapted to embrace a suitable proportion of the nose. At the upper ends of the legs I2 and I4 are connected a pair of holder members 2|] and 22. The holder members 20 and 22 are each provided with apertures 24 within which a peripheral ledge 26 extends into for suitable engagement with an attaching rod generally indicated by reference numeral 28. The attaching rod 28 is provided with a pointed penetrating end 30, a peripheral shoulder portion 32 adapted to be pressed past the ledge 26, and a peripheral groove 34. Another shoulder portion 36 of somewhat larger size than the shoulder portion 32 is formed on the attaching rod on the opposite side of the groove 34 from the shoulder portion 32.

The bottom end of the connecting rod 28 which is indicated by reference numeral 38 has the upper end portion of a mass of fibres 40 surrounding it. The thin tubular resilient member 42 formed of such material as rubber, elastic plastics, or the like encompasses the lower end 38 of the rod 28 and compresses the upper portion 44 of the fibrous mass 40 therearound. The clip lo, the holders 20 and 22, and the rods 28 could be made from a transparent material such as cellulose acetate, or may be made from other transparent material, preferably plastics of the thermal setting variety.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen, as is shown in Figure 2, that while inhaling air into the lungs, the fibres 40 of th filter fiare and billow outwardly closing all of the space within the nostril thus effectively straining all dust particles, pollen, or any other foreign substance from the air allowing only clean pure air to enter the sinus, the bronchial tubes and the lungs. As shown in Figure 1 it will be noted that when exhaling air from the lungs the fibres are forced together allowing the air to bypass the filter. The action of the fibrous mass 4!! can be compared to that of a bellows.

A suitable medication can be applied to the fibrous mass which is ideally suited for the effective retention of this medication. Hence many viruses and germs may be substantially combated by the effective antiseptic applied to the nostrils by the fibrous matter 40 of the filter which will additionally strain and kill any germs. Since the warm and moist material of the nostrils may satisfactorily melt a coated medication, it can be seen that such medication as can be applied to the fibres or bristles 40 can be made to be eifective over a relatively long period.

This nasal filter is especially adapted for use in alleviating the sufiering of those afilicted with hay-fever, and is also adapted to be used by barbers, factory workers, miners, or other industrial workers where dust, short hairs, or other foreign substances are present in the air which might cause certain well known occupational diseases.

Since from the foregoing the construction and advantages of this nasal filter are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration 'of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, ii; is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction of nasal filter shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalentamay be resorted to which lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

' 1. A nasal filter comprising a clip having a pair of legs and a central connecting portion, a pair of holder members secured to said legs, means in said holder members retaining an attaching rod of a filter element, a fibrous mass surrounding one end of said rod, and a hollow tubular resilient container encompassing said end of said rod and compressing a portion of said fibrous mass therebetween.

invention, what is 2. A nasal filter comprising a substantially U-shaped clip having a pair of legs and a central connecting portion, a holder member having an aperture therethrough secured to each of said legs, a ledge integral with said holder extending into said apertures, said ledge selectively retaining an attaching rod of a filter element, said rod having a penetrating end adapted to guide the insertion of said rod through said aperture past said ledge, a shoulder portion adjacent said penetrating edge adapted to be retained by said ledge, and a groove in said rod in which said ledge is adapted to seat, the other end of said rod being surrounded by a fibrous mass, and a hollow tubular resilient container encompassing said end of said rod and compressing a portion of said fibrous mass The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 142,477 James Sept. 2, 1873 2,100,610 Paisley et a1. Nov. 30, 1937 

